Davis Foundation literacy initiative: ‘It needs to start at birth’

Sally Fuller reads to children at Square One in Springfield in this 2011 Republican file photo

Editor's note: According to the United States Department of Education, "Children who have rich early learning experiences are better prepared to thrive in school. Yet fewer than a third of the nation's 4-year-olds are enrolled in high-quality preschool. Internationally, the United States ranks 28th in early learning enrollment."

In its 2014 budget, the Obama administration has committed to "historic new investment in preschool education" that would give all 4-year olds from low- and moderate-income families access to such education, and create "an incentive for states to serve additional middle-class children." The budget request includes $1.3 billion in 2014, and $75 billion over 10 years in mandatory funding, along with $750 million for competitively awarded preschool development grants and other funds. An area promoter of early childhood education was asked about its importance.

The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, a Springfield-based foundation focusing on early childhood and education, wants 80 percent of Springfield's third graders reading proficiently by 2016. Today, only half as many third graders are proficient readers. The foundation's "Reading Success by 4th Grade" initiative is using various approaches, including parental awareness, to get more young children on the path to success. Click here to read the full story.

This post originally appeared at http://bit.ly/1dMG7lM. Photography and content reposted with permission of Masslive.com.